Bedford football comes up with big play late against Manchester Central, rolls into playoffs

BEDFORD – Defending a division championship is no easy task, especially for a team that possessed a .500 record only few short weeks ago.

But with the help some key plays in the regular-season finale, the Bedford High School football team will have an opportunity to continue its title defense next week after securing the final Division I playoff spot Friday night with a 26-6 victory over Manchester Central.

Despite the final score, Bedford had cause for concern in the early minutes of the game. Central was the team that looked sharp and poised for a playoff birth.

After defensive lineman Josiah Francis recovered a high snap that sailed over the head of Bedford quarterback Thomas Morgan, junior quarterback Alex Hawkom led the Little Green (5-4) offensive on an impressive opening possession. Hawkom completed quick, accurate passes to his receivers and used his legs to cap the 49-yard drive with a short touchdown run, giving Central a 6-0 lead.

On Central’s next offensive drive, Hawkom arced a deep pass over a leaping Bedford defender and into the outstretched arms of Jeremyah Rivera. However, the Little Green drive stalled in Bedford (6-3) territory after a Hawkom scramble to the Bulldogs’ 17-yard line was negated by a holding penalty.

Bedford’s offense struggled to sustain drives through most of the first two quarters of play, and with the ball at the Bulldogs own 7-yard line in the closing minutes before halftime, Bedford looked to be heading into the second half scoreless.

But following a succession of modest gains, Harrison LeGoullon made a tough catch deep across the middle of the field, dragging defenders with him to the Central 32-yard line. Demetri Anagnost capped the improbable 93-yard drive with two big runs, the last of which saw Anagnost airborne as he crossed the goal line.

A converted extra point finally gave the hometown Bulldogs their first score, and lead, of the night.

With the exception of a Central drive that ended in a barely-missed 42-yard field goal attempt, both teams had difficulty consistently moving the ball against the opposing defense to start the second half. It wasn’t until a game-changing play minutes into the fourth quarter that the momentum swung in Bedford’s direction.

After driving Central deep into Bulldog territory, Hawkom dropped back to pass and tried to go across the middle to a slanting receiver, but Bedford defensive back Lucien Mumpini cut in front of the pass. What happened next was an electrifying 90-yard return that put Bedford up 14-6 with just over nine minutes left in the game.

With a single play, Central went from potentially retaking the lead to falling behind by eight points. And the Little Green never recovered.

While the product of Central’s earlier successes was quickly evaporating under the lights of a cold October night, the Bulldogs rode the momentum of Mumpini’s game-breaking play and quickly added another touchdown on their next offensive possession to put the game out of reach.

After the game, when asked what they thought about their victory, Bedford players merely let out a thunderous roar.

And that Mumpini pick?

“Game changing,” Bedford coach Derek Stank bluntly admitted when summing up his thoughts on the catalyst for his team’s playoff-clinching victory.

The Bulldogs hope to continue their momentum next week against Winnacunnet in the Division I quarterfinals. For Central, after losing their last three games, it will get back to work in preparation for the Thanksgiving game against Manchester West to close out their season.